Today we celebrate what we call Easter as the resurrection of Christ. However Easter once called Eastre was a pagan Holiday, as well was Christmas. However it was quite dangerous for Christians to celebrate their Christianity. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. They did so, however, in a clandestine manner. It would have been suicide for the very early Christian converts to celebrate their holy days with observances that did not coincide with celebrations that already existed. To save lives, the missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner. As it happened, the pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian's observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense, therefore, to alter the festival itself, to make it a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter. On this same note other Christian days of celebration also fit into the same timeline as pagan holidays.

Well with that History now given let's look at what we as Christian celebrate and observe on Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Although He was tempted in all area's Jesus maintained a sinless life. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; Because He lived a sinless undefiled life, He was pure and unblemished, thus being the perfect lamb of God and having the ability to cleanse us from our sins.

We were separated from God because of our sin. God knew we could not redeem ourselves therefore Christ was sent to redeem us. Thus bridging the gap between God and Man, the illustration below is self explanatory.

To be quite blunt here if you have not received Christ as your Lord and Savior that gap still remains. When you think of the taunting, Matthew 27:31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. being spit at, Matthew 27:30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head, the nails in His hands and feet, the stripes He took that we rightly deserved. And ultimately the death he took on so that we could have eternal life. How can you reject Christ? Well you may say I haven't rejected Him, but folks by not making any decision means you have made a decision and that is rejection. We can be like Pilate and try to pass the buck on to others. Matthew 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Although Pilate may have thought he washed the blood of Christ from his hands he did not, truth is truth we will all stand before the same God and give an account for our choices.

Can you imagine being humiliated, hung on a cross, having your clothes gambled for, given rotten wine to drink and having to die for someone else sin? Of course we will never know that horror because Christ took it on for us making atonement for our sins.

The story does not end with Christ being crucified, what took place next was the fulfillment given in prophecy many years before. Let's take a look at prophecy given and prophecy fulfilled.

Prophesied In and Fullfilled in the following Scripture:

Zechariah 9:9 " Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Mark 11:7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalms 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

After Christ was crucified and buried in a tomb, not just a tomb but a guarded tomb with a boulder rolled over the entrance the following took place.

Mark 16:1-20

1. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

That's right HE IS RISEN! He is no longer on the cross, He is no longer in the tomb He is at the right hand of the Father. He is our bridge to God. There is no other way, shape, form or formula to God except through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. We cannot get to God through our works, deeds or being "good". It takes a personal relationship with the one true God.

In closing when you think of Easter and all the goodies it entails, give some thought to what Christ has done for you. Give some thought to His return. Just as we seen the prophesy fulfilled in the scripture above, We too will see the prophesy of His return fulfilled. Remember His words to us: John 14:2&3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.